Cost of Living & Income: Shanghai vs Madrid

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Shanghai and Madrid are averages compiled from millions of user-contributed income and living-cost entries worldwide over the last 12 months (updated July 2026), converted to Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥). Green 🟢 marks a higher income or a lower price. Source: NUMBEO, which is widely cited by international media; the Seapoe team compiled, translated and processed the data.

Income comparison

MetricShanghaiMadridShanghai vs Madrid
💰 Average monthly net salary¥11,735¥17,041Madrid earns 1.5× the salary in Shanghai

Daily expenses

MetricShanghaiMadridShanghai vs Madrid
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥30¥124Madrid costs 4.15× the price in Shanghai
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥467Madrid costs 2.33× the price in Shanghai
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥78Madrid costs 2.22× the price in Shanghai
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥429.8¥1,293.5Madrid costs 3.01× the price in Shanghai
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥76.5¥241.1Madrid costs 3.15× the price in Shanghai
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥52.7¥122.6Madrid costs 2.33× the price in Shanghai
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥462.0¥333.6Shanghai costs 1.38× the price in Madrid
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥60.0¥77.8Madrid costs 1.30× the price in Shanghai
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.6¥12.0Madrid costs 1.39× the price in Shanghai

Supermarket prices

MetricShanghaiMadridShanghai vs Madrid
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥88.8¥121.8Madrid costs 1.37× the price in Shanghai
🥚 Eggs (12)¥12.3¥26.3Madrid costs 2.13× the price in Shanghai
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥13.6¥8.8Shanghai costs 1.54× the price in Madrid
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥13.0¥10.1Shanghai costs 1.29× the price in Madrid
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥15.5¥18.0Madrid costs 1.16× the price in Shanghai
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥5.6¥15.1Madrid costs 2.71× the price in Shanghai
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥12.0¥17.8Madrid costs 1.48× the price in Shanghai
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.1¥8.3Madrid costs 1.37× the price in Shanghai
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥77.5¥54.4Shanghai costs 1.42× the price in Madrid

Rent & property prices

MetricShanghaiMadridShanghai vs Madrid
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥6,371¥10,683Madrid costs 1.68× the price in Shanghai
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,832¥8,226Madrid costs 2.15× the price in Shanghai
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥16,000¥19,031Madrid costs 1.19× the price in Shanghai
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥8,594¥12,453Madrid costs 1.45× the price in Shanghai
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥93,933¥62,075Shanghai costs 1.51× the price in Madrid
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥44,760¥29,535Shanghai costs 1.52× the price in Madrid